Over-the-wire cardiac implant delivery system for treatment of CHF and other conditions

ABSTRACT

Medical devices, systems, and methods reduce the distance between two locations in tissue in a minimally invasive manner, often for treatment of congestive heart failure. In one embodiment, an anchor of an implant system may, when the implant system is fully deployed, reside within the right ventricle in engagement with the ventricular septum. A tension member may extend from that anchor through the septum and an exterior wall of the left ventricle to a second anchor disposed along an epicardial surface of the heart. Deployment of the anchor within the right ventricle may be performed by inserting a guidewire through the septal wall into the right ventricle. The anchor may be inserted into the right ventricle over the guidewire and through a lumen of a delivery catheter. Delivering the anchor over the guidewire may provide improved control in the delivery and placement of the anchor within the right ventricle.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/632,108 entitled “Over-The-Wire Cardiac Implant Delivery System forTreatment of CHF and Other Conditions,” filed Sep. 30, 2012 which isrelated to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/541,980 entitled “Over-The-Wire Cardiac Implant Delivery Systemfor Treatment of CHF and Other Conditions,” filed Sep. 30, 2011. Thisapplication is also related to and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/541,975 entitled “RemotePericardial Hemostasis for Ventricular Access and Reconstruction orOther Organ Therapies,” filed Sep. 30, 2011; U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/541,978 entitled “Cardiac Implant MigrationInhibiting Systems,” filed Sep. 30, 2011; and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/541,624 entitled “Trans-Catheter VentricularReconstruction Structures, Methods, and Systems for Treatment ofCongestive Heart Failure and Other Conditions,” filed Sep. 30, 2011; thefull disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

The subject matter of this application is also related to that of USPatent Publication No. US2009/0093670, as published on Apr. 9, 2009 andentitled “Treating Dysfunctional Cardiac Tissue;” and to that of USPatent Publication No. US2010/0016655, as published on Jan. 21, 2010 andentitled “Cardiac Anchor Structures, Methods, and Systems for treatmentof Congestive Heart Failure and Other Conditions;” the full disclosuresof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to improved medical devices, systems,and methods, with many embodiments being particularly useful forreducing the distance between two points in tissue in a minimally orless invasive manner. Specific reference is made to the treatment of afailing heart, particularly the alleviation of congestive heart failureand other progressive heart diseases. The provided devices, systems, andmethods will often be used so as to resize or alter the geometry of aventricle in a failing heart, such as by reducing its radius ofcurvature through the process of excluding a portion of thecircumference from contact with blood, and thereby reduce wall stress onthe heart and improve the heart's pumping performance. Although specificreference is made to the treatment of congestive heart failure,embodiments of the present invention can also be used in otherapplications in which tissue geometry is altered.

Exemplary embodiments described herein provide implants and methods foralleviating congestive heart failure and other progressive diseases ofthe heart. Congestive heart failure may, for example, be treated usingone or more implants which are selectively positioned relative to afirst wall of the heart (typically an interventricular septum), andanother wall of the heart so as to exclude scar tissue and limit a crosssectional area, or distance across a ventricle. Functional deteriorationof the heart tissues may be inhibited by decreasing a size of the heartchamber and/or approximating tissues so that stress on the tissues islimited. Implant locations and overall chamber remodeling achieved byplacement of a series of implants may be determined so as to provide abeneficial volumetric decrease and chamber shape.

Congestive heart failure (sometimes referred to as “CHF” or “heartfailure”) is a condition in which the heart does not pump enough bloodto the body's other organs. Congestive heart failure may in some casesresult from narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heartmuscle, high blood pressure, heart valve dysfunction due to degenerativeprocesses or other causes, cardiomyopathy (a primary disease of theheart muscle itself), congenital heart defects, infections of the hearttissues, and the like. However, in many cases congestive heart failuremay be triggered by a heart attack or myocardial infarction. Heartattacks can cause scar tissue that interferes with the heart muscle'shealthy function, and that scar tissue can progressively replace moreand more of the contractile heart tissue. More specifically, thepresence of the scar may lead to a compensatory neuro-hormonal responseby the remaining, non-infarcted myocardium leading to progressivedysfunction and worsening failure.

People with heart failure may have difficulty exerting themselves, oftenbecoming short of breath, tired, and the like. As blood flow out of theheart decreases, pressure within the heart increases. Not only doesoverall body fluid volume increase, but higher intracardiac pressureinhibits blood return to the heart through the vascular system. Theincreased overall volume and higher intracardiac pressures result incongestion in the tissues. Edema or swelling may occur in the legs andankles, as well as other parts of the body. Fluid may also collect inthe lungs, interfering with breathing (especially when lying down).Congestive heart failure may also be associated with a decrease in theability of the kidneys to remove sodium and water, and the fluid buildupmay be sufficient to cause substantial weight gain. With progression ofthe disease, this destructive sequence of events can cause theprogressive deterioration and eventual failure of the remainingfunctional heart muscle.

Treatments for congestive heart failure may involve rest, dietarychanges, and modified daily activities. Various drugs may also be usedto alleviate detrimental effects of congestive heart failure, such as bydilating expanding blood vessels, improving and/or increasing pumping ofthe remaining healthy heart tissue, increasing the elimination of wastefluids, and the like.

Surgical interventions have also been applied for treatment ofcongestive heart failure. If the heart failure is related to an abnormalheart valve, the valve may be surgically replaced or repaired.Techniques also exist for exclusion of the scar and volume reduction ofthe ventricle. These techniques may involve (for example) surgical leftventricular reconstruction, ventricular restoration, the Dor procedure,and the like. If the heart becomes sufficiently damaged, even moredrastic surgery may be considered. For example, a heart transplant maybe the most viable option for some patients. These surgical therapiescan be at least partially effective, but typically involve substantialpatient risk. While people with mild or moderate congestive heartfailure may benefit from these known techniques to alleviate thesymptoms and/or slow the progression of the disease, less traumatic, andtherefore, less risky therapies which significantly improve the heartfunction and extend life of congestive heart failure patients hasremained a goal.

It has been proposed that an insert or implant be used to reduceventricular volume of patients with congestive heart failure. Withcongestive heart failure, the left ventricle often dilates or increasesin size. This can result in a significant increase in wall tension andstress. With disease progression, the volume within the left ventriclegradually increases and blood flow gradually decreases, with scar tissueoften taking up a greater and greater portion of the ventricle wall. Byimplanting a device which brings opposed walls of the ventricle intocontact with one another, a portion of the ventricle may be excluded orclosed off. By reducing the overall size of the ventricle, particularlyby reducing the portion of the functioning ventricle chamber defined byscar tissue, the heart function may be significantly increased and theeffects of disease progression at least temporarily reversed, halted,and/or slowed.

An exemplary method and implant for closing off a lower portion of aheart ventricle is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,754, the fulldisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A variety ofalternative implant structures and methods have also been proposed fortreatment of the heart. U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,715 is directed to a heartwall tension reduction apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,168 also describesa heart wall tension reduction apparatus, while U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,852describes minimally-invasive devices and methods for treatment ofcongestive heart failure, at least some of which involve reshaping anouter wall of the patient's heart so as to reduce the transversedimension of the left ventricle. U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,684 describesendovascular splinting devices and methods, while U.S. Pat. No.6,808,488 describes external stress reduction devices and methods thatmay create a heart wall shape change. US Patent Publication No.US2009/0093670 describes structures and methods for treatingdysfunctional cardiac tissue, while US Patent Publication No.US2010/0016655 describes cardiac anchor structures, methods, and systemsfor treatment of congestive heart failure and Other Conditions. The fulldisclosures of all of these references are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

While the proposed implants, systems, and methods may help surgicallyremedy the size of the ventricle as a treatment of congestive heartfailure and appear to offer benefits for many patients, still furtheradvances would be desirable. In general, it would be desirable toprovide improved devices, systems, and methods for treatment ofcongestive heart failure. It would be particularly desirable if suchdevices and techniques could provide increased control over any movementof the components of the implant system during deployment in a beatingheart, and/or could decrease the trauma imposed on collateral tissueswhen gaining access to the target tissues for treatment, whenpositioning implants and other therapeutic devices for use, and whentreating the target tissue. It would be also be beneficial to enhancethe accuracy of ventricular reconstruction while simplifying the overallprocedure, ideally while decreasing the sensitivity of the therapy onunusual surgical skills. It would be advantageous if these improvementscould be provided without overly complicating the structures of implantsor implant deployment systems, and while significantly enhancing thebenefits provided by the implanted devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide improved medical devices,systems, and methods, in many cases for reducing the distance betweentwo locations in tissue, optionally in a less or minimally invasivemanner. The present invention may find specific use in the treatment ofa failing heart, particularly for the alleviation of congestive heartfailure and other progressive heart diseases by reconfiguring abnormalheart geometry that may be contributing to heart dysfunction. In manyembodiments, implant components will be positioned at least partiallywithin a chamber of the heart. For example, an anchor of an implantsystem may, when the system is fully deployed, reside within the rightventricle in engagement with the ventricular septum. A tension membermay extend from that anchor through the septum and an exterior wall ofthe left ventricle to a second anchor along an epicardial surface of theheart. Advantageously, an elongate anchor structure having a guidewirelumen can be advanced over the guidewire, facilitating control over thepositioning and orientation of the anchor structure as it exits thedelivery catheter so as to inhibit inadvertent penetration into tissuesbordering the chamber, damage to the chordae tenineae, papillarymuscles, valve leaflets, and/or other intracardial structures.Perforating both the exterior wall and the septum from an epicardialapproach can also provide beneficial control over the effectivereshaping of the ventricular chamber.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a heartof a patient including inserting a guidewire through a wall of the heartand inserting a delivery catheter over the guidewire into the heart. Thedelivery catheter may include a first end, a second end, and a lumenextending between the first end and the second end. An anchor may beinserted over the guidewire and through the lumen of the deliverycatheter to a position within a chamber of the heart. The anchor may becoupled with a tension member. The method may also include deploying theanchor within the chamber and applying tension to the anchor via thetension member so as to urge the wall proximally against a second wallof the heart.

The anchor may include a lumen extending along an axis of an elongatestructure. Inserting the anchor into the heart may include advancing theanchor structure axially over the guidewire and into the chamber so thatthe guidewire inhibits injury to tissue structures along or within thechamber by the anchor.

The method may further include inserting a dilating catheter through thewall prior to inserting the delivery catheter to dilate an aperture ofthe wall as the dilating catheter is inserted therethrough. In someembodiments, the dilating catheter may include a tapering threaded tipthat contacts tissue of the wall and the method may additionally includerotating the dilating catheter about a thread axis so that the taperingthreaded tip dilates the aperture. In other embodiments, the dilatingcatheter may include a cutting element disposed toward a distal end ofthe dilating catheter that cuts tissue of the wall to dilate theaperture.

The method may additionally include inserting a pusher tube through thelumen of the delivery catheter to push the anchor through the lumen ofthe delivery catheter. The pusher tube may include a first lumen throughwhich the tension member is inserted and a second lumen through whichthe guidewire is inserted. The anchor may be pivotally coupled with thetension member and may include a first end, a second end, and a lumenextending between the first end to the second end and the method mayadditionally include inserting the guidewire through the lumen of theanchor to orient the anchor relative to the second lumen of the pushertube as the anchor is inserted through the lumen of the deliverycatheter. The method may additionally include withdrawing the guidewirefrom the lumen of the anchor after the anchor is positioned within thechamber so that the anchor pivots from a low profile configuration to adeployed configuration.

The method may additionally include positioning a second anchor adjacentthe second wall and applying tension to the anchor and the second anchorso as to urge the wall against the second wall. The method mayadditionally include expanding a laterally deployable member of thepusher tube and/or delivery catheter adjacent the wall and engaging thelaterally deployable member against the wall so as to urge the walltoward the second wall. The laterally deployable member may include aballoon, a malecot, a plurality of deployable arms, and the like.

In some embodiments, the delivery catheter may include a catheter bodyhaving a first end and a second end, a dilating tip disposed near thesecond end, a sheath disposed over the catheter body proximally of thedilating tip, and an anchor receptacle configured to removably receivethe anchor therein and the method may include proximally retracting thesheath such that the anchor is laterally releasable from the receptacle.The delivery catheter may also include a deployment member disposedtoward the dilating tip and the method may include advancing the anchordistally relative to the dilating catheter so that the anchor islaterally deployed from the receptacle via the deployment member.

In some embodiments, the dilating catheter includes a lumen extendingbetween a first end of the dilating catheter and a second end so thatthe dilating catheter is insertable over the guidewire through the wallalong an arcuate path by inserting the guidewire through the lumen.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a heartof a patient where the heart comprises a chamber bordered by a wall. Themethod includes inserting a guidewire into the chamber so that theinserted guidewire traverses the wall through an aperture in the walland inserting a dilating catheter over the guidewire to a positionadjacent the wall. The dilating catheter may include a tapering threadedtip having a thread axis and the method may additionally includerotating the dilating catheter about the thread axis as the dilatingcatheter is inserted through the wall so that the tapering threaded tipcontacts tissue of the wall and rotational engagement between thetapering threaded tip and the tissue dilates the aperture of the wall toan expanded aperture.

The method may further include inserting a delivery catheter through theexpanded aperture of the wall, inserting an anchor, coupled with atension member, over the guidewire and through a lumen of the deliverycatheter to a position adjacent the wall, and applying tension to theanchor via the tension member so as to urge a septum wall of the heartagainst a chamber wall of the heart, where the wall of the heart is theseptum wall or the chamber wall. The anchor and tension member may beadvanced adjacent the wall while the heart is beating and with theanchor axially affixed to the tension member in a low profileconfiguration. The anchor may be deployed laterally relative to thetension member. Similarly, the anchor may be pivotally coupled with thetension member and may include an elongate shaft having an axial lumenthrough which the guidewire is inserted. The guidewire may maintain anaxial orientation of the anchor extending along the tension member whilethe anchor is advanced through the lumen of the delivery catheter.

The method may further include coupling an additional anchor with thetension member, positioning the additional anchor adjacent the chamberwall, and applying tension to the anchor and additional anchor via thetension member so as to urge the septum wall against the chamber wall.Applying tension to the anchor and additional anchor may includeapplying a preselected amount of tension with a tension device, whichmay provide an indication of the amount of tension applied. Theadditional anchor may have a variable force mode that allows theadditional anchor to slide axially proximally and distally along thetension member and may have a set force mode that inhibits eitherproximal or distal movement of the additional anchor along the tensionmember. The tension device may include a first end, a second end, and alumen extending from the first end to the second end through which thetension member is inserted.

In another aspect, the invention provides a system for treating a heartof a patient, which may include a guidewire insertable through a wall ofthe heart into a chamber of the heart and a delivery catheter having afirst end, a second end, and a lumen extending between the first end andthe second end, the delivery catheter being insertable over theguidewire through the wall. The system may also include an anchorcomprising a lumen configured to receive the guidewire so that theanchor is insertable over the guidewire through the wall, the anchorbeing insertable through the lumen of the delivery catheter. The systemmay further include a tension member coupled with the anchor to urge thewall against a second wall. In some embodiments, the delivery catheterincludes a hemostasis valve that limits blood loss from the patientbody.

The anchor may include a lumen extending along an axis of an elongatestructure. The lumen of the anchor may slidably receive the guidewiretherein so as to accommodate advancement of the anchor into the heart byadvancing the anchor structure axially over the guidewire and into thechamber. The guidewire may help control a position of the elongateanchor structure and inhibits injury to tissue structures along orwithin the chamber.

The system may additionally include a dilating catheter having a firstend, a second end, and a lumen extending between the first end and thesecond end, where the lumen is configured to receive the guidewire sothat the dilating catheter is insertable through the wall along a pathdefined by the guidewire. The dilating catheter may have a dilatingfeature disposed toward the second end that dilates the aperture of thewall as the dilating catheter is inserted through the wall.

The system may additionally include a pusher tube insertable through thelumen of the delivery catheter. The pusher tube may include a first end,a second end, a first lumen extending between the first end and thesecond end through which the tension member is insertable, and a secondlumen extending between the first end and the second end through whichthe guidewire is insertable. The pusher tube may be configured to pushthe anchor through the lumen of the delivery catheter.

The anchor may have a fixed orientation relative to the tension memberwhen the guidewire is inserted through the lumen of the anchor and theanchor may be rotatable relative to the tension member when theguidewire is not inserted through the lumen of the anchor. Similarly,the lumen of the anchor may be axially aligned with the second lumen ofthe pusher tube when the guidewire is inserted through both the secondlumen of the pusher tube and through the lumen of the anchor, whichaxial alignment may facilitate insertion of the anchor through the lumenof the delivery catheter.

The delivery catheter may include a catheter body having a first end anda second end, a dilating tip disposed near a second end of the deliverycatheter, a sheath disposed over the catheter body proximally of thedilating tip, and an anchor receptacle configured to removably receivethe anchor therein. The anchor may be laterally releasable from thereceptacle of the delivery catheter by retracting the sheath proximally.The dilating tip may include a deployment member that deploys the anchorlaterally as the anchor is advanced distally relative to the deliverycatheter.

The system may additionally include a second anchor slidably coupledwith the tension member. The additional anchor may have a variable forcemode that allows the additional anchor to slide axially proximally anddistally along the tension member and a set force mode that inhibitsmovement of the additional anchor proximally or distally along thetension member. The system may additionally include an axialforce-application tool configured for applying a desired anchormigration inhibiting force between the anchors. The second anchor may beconfigured for changing from the variable-force mode to the set-forcemode while the axial force-application tool applies the desired anchorforce between the tension member and the second anchor. Theforce-application tool may have a compression shaft configured to engagethe second anchor through a working lumen of a minimally invasive accesstool and the second anchor may be reconfigured between the modes fromoutside the patient body through the working lumen of the minimallyinvasive access tool. The pusher tube and/or delivery catheter mayinclude an expandable member that is expandable adjacent the wall andengagable against the wall so as to urge the wall toward the secondwall.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for dilating anaperture of a wall of a patient's heart. The method may includeinserting a guidewire through the wall into a chamber of the patient'sheart, where the guidewire extends along an arcuate insertion path. Themethod may also include inserting the guidewire through a lumen of adilating catheter, where the lumen extends between a proximal end of thedilating catheter and a distal end. The method may further includeinserting the dilating catheter distally along the arcuate insertionpath so that a dilating feature of the dilating catheter is positionedproximate the wall of the patient's heart and rotating the dilatingcatheter about an axis as the dilating catheter is inserted through thewall so that a threaded surface at the distal end contacts tissue of thewall to dilate the aperture of the wall to an expanded aperture. Thetissue of the wall may comprise scar tissue.

In another aspect, the invention provides a dilating catheter fordilating an aperture of a wall of a patient's heart. The dilatingcatheter may include a shaft extending between a proximal end and adistal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal endthrough which a guidewire is insertable. The shaft may comprise aflexible material that allows the shaft to be inserted along an arcuatepath defined by the guidewire. The dilating catheter may also include atapering threaded tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft that isconfigured to contact tissue as the shaft is rotated and insertedthrough the aperture of the wall such that the tapering threaded tipdilates the aperture to an expanded aperture as the dilating catheter isinserted through the wall.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a heartof a patient, where the heart comprises a chamber bordered by a septum.The method may include inserting a guidewire into the chamber so thatthe inserted guidewire traverses a wall of the septum through anaperture in the septum wall. The method may also include inserting adilating catheter over the guidewire to a position adjacent the septumwall, where the dilating catheter includes a tapering threaded distaltip having a thread axis. The method may further include rotating thedilating catheter about the thread axis as the dilating catheter isinserted through the septum wall so that the tapering threaded tipcontacts tissue and so that rotational engagement between the taperingthreaded tip and the tissue dilates the aperture of the septum wall toan expanded aperture. The method may additionally include inserting adelivery catheter through the expanded aperture of the septum wall,inserting an anchor over the guidewire and through a lumen of thedelivery catheter to a position distally of the septum wall (the anchorbeing coupled with a tension member), and applying tension to the anchorvia the tension member so as to urge the septum wall of the heartagainst a chamber wall of the heart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-D illustrate various views of a healthy heart and a hearthaving infracted tissue.

FIG. 2A shows a reconstructed left ventricle using a series of implantedanchors so as to mitigate the deleterious effects of congestive heartfailure, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the heart of FIG. 2A, showing areduction in the size of the left ventricle effected by one of theimplants.

FIGS. 2C-2D schematically illustrate minimally invasive access to andendoscopic imaging of a pericardium of the heart.

FIGS. 3A-3O illustrate a method of reducing the distance between opposedwalls of a heart, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A schematically illustrates joining of a femoral access tool paththrough the right atrium and an endoscopic trans-epicardial access toolpath by snaring a guidewire within the right ventricle of the heart,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B schematically illustrates introducing a guidewire into a rightventricle of the heart through an external wall of the left ventricleand through the septum so as to form an epicardial access path,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 4C-4E schematically illustrate joining a right atrial access toolshaft with an endoscopic trans-epicardial access tool shaft within theright ventricle by coupling a guidewire and snare advanced along theshafts and into the right ventricle, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically illustrate alternative techniques forjoining a right atrial access tool shaft and an endoscopic epicardialaccess tool by snaring a guidewire within the right ventricle or rightatrium of the heart using a basket snare, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a basket snare and associated access catheterconfigured for use in the right ventricle, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates joining a right-atrial access tool pathwith a trans-epicardial access tool using a snare and associatedguidewire configured for coupling within the pulmonary artery, accordingto an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a guidewire that has been pulled alongpaths joined within the right ventricle so as to extend from outside thepatient, through the right atrium, through the right ventricle, throughthe septum, through the left ventricle, through an exterior wall of theheart, and back outside the patient, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates expansion of a path through the leftventricle over a guidewire, delivery of an anchor and adjacent tensionmember through the expanded path and over the guidewire, and controllingmovement and orientation of the anchor within the right ventricle usinga guidewire extending along a joined path, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGS. 10-10F illustrates components of an over-the-wire implant deliverysystem and their use, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 10G-10I illustrate an exemplary axially flexible helical screw-tipdilator and its use for traversing a wall of the heart, according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 10J-10N illustrate an alternative delivery catheter and guidancemember, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate an alternative over-the-wire dilating catheter,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 12A and 12B schematically illustrate an anchor repositioning leashand its use, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 13A-13C schematically illustrate coupling of a tension member to aguidewire so as to facilitate guiding the tension member into andthrough the heart, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 14A-14C schematically illustrate advancing the tension member andanchor along a right ventricle access tool over a guidewire, and outfrom the access tool and through the septum and an external wall of theleft ventricle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 15A-15D illustrate various aspects of an epicardial anchor havinga variable-force mode and a set force mode, according to an embodimentof the invention.

FIGS. 16A-16D illustrate an epicardial hemostasis tool having a workinglumen to provide access through a tissue tract to a epicardium about anepicardial access path, wherein the tool is configured to compress theexternal wall of the heart toward the access path so as to providehemostasis, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 17-18B illustrate alternative epicardial anchors which are adaptedto be advanced along and reconfigured between a variable-force mode anda set force mode via a working lumen of a minimally invasive epicardialaccess device, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 19A-D illustrate insertion of an epicardial-engagement portion ofan anchor over a tension member and through a working lumen of aminimally-invasive access device so as to distribute an anchoring loadof an anchor lock along a desired contour, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides improved medical devices,systems, and methods. Exemplary embodiments of the devices are describedfor use in reducing the distance between a region along the septum and aregion of an external wall of the left ventricle of a heart in a less orminimally invasive manner. Hence, embodiments of the tools and methodsdescribed herein may find specific use in the treatment of congestiveheart failure and other progressive heart diseases by reconfiguringabnormal heart geometry that may be contributing to heart dysfunction.For congestive heart failure therapies, perforating both the exteriorwall and the septum from an epicardial approach can provide significantbenefits in control over the locations of implant deployments, therebyeffectively enhancing the resulting reshaping of the ventricularchamber. In some embodiments of the invention, the exterior wall and theseptum may be perforated using a curved needle. The perforated septumand/or exterior wall may then be dilated to expand or enlarge theaperture through the septum or exterior wall using a dilating catheter,which may include a dilating feature such as a tapering threaded tip,cutting element (RF cutting element), and the like. The dilatingcatheter may dilate the aperture, such as by cutting tissue, as thedilating catheter is inserted through the exterior wall and/or septumwithout requiring an excessive axial force to be placed on the exteriorwall and/or septum. This may reduce or eliminate arrhythmia or othernegative conditions caused by excessive axial pressure exerted on theexterior wall and/or septum. In addition, this wall and/or septumperforation process can be performed while the heart is beating.

In another embodiment, guiding or deploying an implant may involve boththe epicardial access path and another access path into and via anaccess path through the right ventricle. This additional right atrialaccess path into the heart may be via the superior vena cava, theinferior vena cava, the right atrial appendage, or the like, and thepathways may be joined together by coupling of a snare to a guidewire orthe like within the right ventricle, the right atrium, the rightpulmonary artery, or the like. While a variety of tools will bedescribed herein for providing access pathways, for joining pathwaystogether within the heart, for deploying implants, for maintaininghemostasis, and the like, it should be recognized that alternativeembodiments may employ additional or alternative structures, some ofwhich may be off-the-shelf, and some of which may be new structuresconfigured particularly for use in the advantageous therapies describedherein. For example, embodiments of the systems, implants, andtechniques described herein may employ components described inUS2009/0093670, as published on Apr. 9, 2009 and entitled “TreatingDysfunctional Cardiac Tissue;” and/or in US Patent Publication No.US2010/0016655, as published on Jan. 21, 2010 and entitled “CardiacAnchor Structures, Methods, and Systems for treatment of CongestiveHeart Failure and Other Conditions;’ the full disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Deployment of an anchor within the heart (e.g., the right ventricle)both along a single pathway or joined pathways described above, may beimproved by guiding the anchor into the heart over a guidewire. Theanchor and/or a tether coupled to the anchor may include a lumen throughwhich the guidewire is inserted that aligns and controls the placementof the anchor within the heart and/or controls deployment of the anchorwithin the heart. Such placement of the anchor and/or control of theanchor may prevent or reduce the anchor from entangling or interferingwith sensitive heart tissues, such as valve leaflets, chordae, papillarymuscles, and the like. The guidewire may be positioned within a chamberof the heart (ventricle or atrium), within an artery (e.g., thepulmonary artery), and the like, and the anchor can be advanced to thatposition over the guidewire so as to avoid sensitive heart tissues. Inembodiments where separate pathways are joined, the anchor may beinserted along one pathway, advanced over the guidewire to within achamber of the heart, and a tether coupled with the anchor may beadvanced to a position exterior to the heart along the other pathway.The tether may then be tensioned to urge a wall of the heart toward asecond wall (e.g., urge the septum toward an exterior wall of the leftventricle).

Tensioning of the tether and/or anchor and the resulting reshaping ofthe heart may be improved using a tensioning device and/or second anchoras described herein. The second anchor may be coupled with the tensionmember and may include a variable-force mode that allows the secondanchor to be advanced distally and proximally along the tension member;similarly, the second anchor may also include a set force mode thatallows the anchor to only be advanced proximally or distally along thetension member (i.e., that inhibits proximal or distal movement of theanchor along the tension member). The second anchor may be reconfiguredbetween the variable-force and set force mode. The tension member,second anchor, and/or first anchor may be tensioned via a minimallyinvasive tension device or force-application tool. The tensiondevice/force-application tool may be designed to tension the tensionmember, second anchor, and/or first anchor while the heart is beatingand may be designed to reconfigure the second anchor between thevariable-force and set force mode from outside the patient body. Thetension device may provide an indication of the tension force applied,which provides controls over the tension applied so as to inhibitmigration of the first and/or second anchors with respect to the septumand/or exterior wall of the heart.

Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1A shows a normal heart H and FIG. 1Bshows the cross-section of normal heart H. Normal heart H includesstructures such as the aorta AO, pulmonary artery PU, coronary arteryCA, apex AP, right ventricle RV, left ventricle LV with a radius 210,and septum SE.

Myocardial infarction and the resultant scar formation is often theindex event in the genesis of congestive heart failure (“CHF”). Thepresence of the scar, if left untreated, may lead to a compensatoryneuro-hormonal response by the remaining, non-infarcted myocardium. FIG.1C shows a region RE (bordered by a dotted line) of left ventricle LVwhich includes scar tissue. With congestive heart failure, the leftventricle often dilates or increases in size as shown in FIG. 1D, inwhich radius 210 has increased to a radius 410. This increase in sizecan result in a significant increase in wall tension and stress. Withdisease progression, the volume of the left ventricle LV graduallyincreases while forward blood flow gradually decreases, with scar tissueexpanding while unscarred muscle dilates and becomes thin, losingcontractility. The systems, methods, and devices described herein may beapplied to inhibit, reverse, or avoid this response altogether, oftenhalting the destructive sequence of events which could otherwise causethe eventual failure of the remaining functional heart muscle.

CHF is a condition in which the heart does not pump enough blood to thebody's other organs. CHF may result from narrowing of the arteries thatsupply blood to the heart muscle, for instance, the coronary artery CAas shown in FIGS. 1 and 1C. Other causes of CHF include high bloodpressure, heart valve dysfunctions due to degenerative processes orother causes, cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle itself),congenital heart defects, infections of the heart tissues, and the like.In certain pathological conditions, the ventricles of the heart canbecome ineffective in pumping the blood, causing a back-up of pressurein the vascular system behind the ventricle. The reduced effectivenessof the heart may be due to an enlargement of the heart. For example, theleft ventricular radius 210 of a heart H, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1B,may eventually increase to a larger left ventricular radius 410 of afailing heart H, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to obstruction of a coronaryartery CA is a common initiating event that can lead ultimately to heartfailure. A myocardial ischemia may cause a portion of a myocardium ofthe heart to lose its ability to contract. Prolonged ischemia can leadto infarction of a portion of the myocardium (heart muscle). Once thistissue dies, it no longer acts as a muscle and cannot contribute to thepumping action of the heart. When the heart tissue is no longer pumpingeffectively, that portion of the myocardium is said to be hypokinetic orakinetic, meaning that it is less contractile or acontractile relativeto the uncompromised myocardial tissue. As this situation worsens, thelocal area of compromised myocardium may bulge out as the heartcontracts, further decreasing the hearts ability to move blood forwardand dilating a ventricle. This bulged out myocardium can be seen inregion RE as shown bordered by a dotted line in FIG. 1C.

As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, one problem with a large dilated leftventricle is a significant increase in wall tension and/or stress bothduring diastolic filling and during systolic contraction. In a normalheart, the adaptation of muscle hypertrophy (thickening) and ventriculardilatation maintain a fairly constant wall tension for systoliccontraction. However, in a failing heart, the ongoing dilation isgreater than the hypertrophy and the result is a rising wall tensionrequirement for systolic contraction. This rising wall tensionrequirement may be an ongoing insult to the muscle myocytes (heartmuscle cells), resulting in further muscle damage. In response, theheart tissue often remodels to accommodate the chronically increasedfilling pressures, further increasing the work that the now-compromisedmyocardium must perform. This vicious cycle of cardiac failure mayresult in the symptoms of CHF such as shortness of breath on exertion,edema in the periphery, nocturnal dyspnea (a characteristic shortness ofbreath that occurs at night after going to bed), weight gain, andfatigue, to name a few. The increase in wall stress also occurs duringthroughout the cardiac cycle and inhibits diastolic filling. The stressincrease requires a larger amount of oxygen supply, which can result inexhaustion of the myocardium leading to a reduced cardiac output of theheart.

Embodiments of the invention may build on known techniques for exclusionof the scar and volume reduction of the ventricle. Unlike knowntechniques that are often accomplished through open surgery, includingleft ventricular reconstruction, ventricular restoration, the Dorprocedure, and the like, the treatments described herein will often(though not necessarily always) be implemented in a minimally invasiveor less invasive manner. Embodiments of the invention can provideadvantages similar to those (for example) of surgical reconstruction ofthe ventricle, resulting in improved function due to improved dynamics,and by normalizing the downward cycle initiated by the original injuryand mediated by the neuro-hormonal disease progression response.

Advantageously, the methods, devices, and systems described herein mayallow percutaneous left ventricular scar exclusion and ventricle volumereduction to be applied at any appropriate time during the course of thedisease. Rather than merely awaiting foreseeable disease progression andattempting to alleviate existing cardiac dysfunction, the techniquesdescribed herein may be applied proactively to prevent some or all ofthe heart failure symptoms, as well as to reverse at least a portion ofany existing congestive heart failure effects, to limit or halt theprogression of congestive heart failure, and/or to retard or preventcongestive heart failure disease progression in the future. Someembodiments may, for appropriate patients, limit the impact ofmyocardial infarction scar formation before heart failure even develops.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a series of implants 10 are shownimplanted in a heart H so as to decrease a cross-section of a leftventricle LV. Each implant 10 generally includes a first anchor 12, asecond anchor 14, and a tension member 16 coupling the anchors together.Tension in the tension member 16 is transferred from the anchors 12, 14to the septum S and the external wall EW bordering the left ventricle LVso as to bring these structures into engagement, thereby effectivelyexcluding a region of scar tissue ST from the left ventricle. In manyembodiments described herein, implant 10 will be deployed by penetratingthe external wall EW and septum SE via a pericardium P of the heart H,and also by accessing a right ventricle RV via a right atrium. Anchorsdeployed within a right ventricle and/or in engagement with the septumSE may sometimes be referred to herein as septal anchors, while anchorsdeployed along the external wall EW of the left ventricle LV may bereferred to as epicardial anchors.

Referring now to FIGS. 2C and 2D an MRI image I taken along viewingplane VP schematically illustrates use of a thoracoscope 20 to provide afield of view encompassing a region of the pericardium of the heart,with the region including a target site for deployment of one or moreepicardial anchors of the implant system.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3O, shown is a method of reducing the distancebetween opposed walls of a heart H, and specifically of reducing thedistance between the septum SE and the external wall EW of the leftventricle LV. In some embodiments, the method is performedendoscopically, percutaneously, or otherwise in a minimally or lessinvasive manner. The heart may be accessed through, for example, a smallincision made between the ribs or a thoracotomy. As shown in FIG. 3A, abent insertion needle or guidewire introducer 320 is passed through adesired insertion path through the left ventricle LV wall and throughseptum SE into the right ventricle RV. Guidewire introducer 320 may beconfigured so that the perforations made by guidewire introducer 320 onthe left ventricular wall and the septum wall are perpendicular to theirrespective walls. As shown in FIG. 3B, a guidewire 311 is placed throughthe lumen of guidewire introducer 320 so that guidewire 311 threadsthrough the outer left ventricle LV wall, through the septum SE, andinto the right ventricle RV. Guidewire 311 may be inserted along and maydefine an epicardial access path, which may be an arcuate path. As shownin FIG. 3C, guidewire introducer 320 is removed from the heart leavingguidewire 311 threaded through the external wall EW, left ventricle LV,and septum SE into right ventricle RV. Examples of bent insertion needleor guidewire introducer 320 may be found in US Patent Publication No.US2010/0016655 that is incorporated herein by reference as describedpreviously.

FIG. 3D shows a dilating catheter 324 inserted within a lumen of adelivery catheter 326 with the dilating catheter 324 and deliverycatheter 326 being advanced over the guidewire 311 to external wall EWof heart H. Delivery catheter 326 may include a hemostasis valve at aproximal end outside the heart to minimize blood loss from the patient.Guidewire 311 is inserted through a lumen of dilating catheter 324.Additional aspects of dilating catheter 324 and delivery catheter 326are shown in FIG. 10. In other embodiments, such as the embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 11A-11C the delivery catheter and dilating cathetermay be combined into a single catheter device.

FIG. 3E shows the dilating catheter 324 and delivery catheter 326inserted over guidewire 311 through the external wall EW and into leftventricle LV so that the distal tip of dilating catheter 324 isproximate septum SE. Dilating catheter 324 and delivery catheter 326 maycomprise a flexible material so as to curve or bend along the arcuateepicardial access path defined by guidewire 311.

Dilating catheter 324 may dilate or enlarge an aperture in septum SEand/or external wall EW formed from inserting guidewire introducer 320through septum SE and/or external wall EW. To dilate the aperturethrough septum SE and/or external wall EW, dilating catheter 324includes a dilating feature at the distal tip. For example, in someembodiments, dilating catheter 324 comprises a tapering threaded tip 325as shown in more detail in FIG. 10. Dilating catheter 324 may be rotated323 about an axis as dilating catheter 324 is inserted through septum SEand/or external wall EW to dilate the aperture. The threaded surface oftapering threaded tip 325 contacts tissue of the septum SE and/orexternal wall EW and cuts the tissue, compresses the tissue, orotherwise widens the aperture. The tapered threaded tip 325 reduces theamount of axial pressure that is otherwise applied to septum SE and/orexternal wall EW as a delivery catheter is inserted therethrough, whichmay reduce arrhythmia or other conditions resulting from axial pressureexerted on the septum SE and/or external wall EW. In other words,rotation of tapering threaded tip 325 may help advance delivery catheter326 with less axial force than would otherwise be used to axiallyadvance a tapered catheter, and may limit axial force to the septumsufficiently to inhibit arrhythmia of the heart. The tissue contacted bythe tapered threaded tip 325 may include scar tissue ST, which generallyis tough or otherwise difficult to penetrate and which, therefore,requires an appreciable amount of axial force to penetrate. Dilatingcatheter 324 and/or delivery catheter 326 may be formed of a flexiblematerial so that dilating catheter 324 may be rotated while being bentalong the arcuate epicardial access path of guidewire 311. Put anotherway, rotation of dilating catheter 324 may be transmitted axially overguidewire 311 around the arcuate epicardial access path. Dilatingcatheter 324 may alternatively include a cutting element instead of orin addition to tapered threaded tip 325. The cutting element may use RFenergy (e.g., an RF transceptal needle) to cut through the tissue of theseptum SE and/or external wall EW. Such RF devices are described herein.Likewise, delivery catheter 326 and/or dilating catheter 324 may besteerable catheters so that a distal end of catheters, 324 and/or 326,may be positioned virtually anywhere within right ventricle (e.g., nearthe pulmonary artery and the like).

FIGS. 10G-10I illustrate an alternative embodiment of a dilationcatheter 324′ having a tapered threaded tip 325′. In this embodiment,tapered threaded tip 325′ is configured to rotationally advance or screwinto and through tissue of external wall EW and/or septum SE. Dilationcatheter 324′ includes inner and outer concentric shafts that extendproximally of tapered threaded tip 325′ toward a proximal hub 323′. Theshafts are laterally flexible to accommodate curvature of the axis ofthe dilation catheter, and the hub 323′ and tapered threaded tip 325′may be axially coupled to the inner shaft and the inner shaft may besufficiently axially stiff so that rotation of the hub 323′ outside thebody induces controlled rotation of the tapered threaded tip 325′ intoand through the tissue of external wall EW and/or septum SE while theouter shaft remains rotationally stationary.

FIG. 3F shows the dilating catheter 324 and delivery catheter 324advanced along the arcuate epicardial access path over guidewire 311through septum wall SE and into right ventricle RV after dilatingcatheter 324 has dilated or expanded the aperture through septum SEand/or external wall EW, which, as described previously, may involvecontacting and/or cutting scar tissue ST. FIG. 3G shows the dilatingcatheter 324 removed from the lumen of deliver catheter 326 so thatdelivery catheter 326 remains within right ventricle RV and insertedthrough septum SE and external wall EW.

FIG. 3H shows septal anchor 332 being inserted within a proximal end ofdelivery catheter 326. Septal anchor 332 is positioned within loadingcartridge 334 that fits at a distal end within the hemostasis valve ofdelivery catheter 326 and that couples at a proximal end with pushertube 336. Loading cartridge 334 facilitates insertion of septal anchor332 and pusher tube 336 within delivery catheter 326. Additional aspectsof septal anchor 332, loading cartridge 334, and pusher tube 336 areshown in FIG. 10. Septal anchor 332 is rotatably coupled with tether ortension member 333 at pivot point 333 a. Septal anchor 332 includes alumen through which guidewire 311 is inserted so that septal anchor 332is advancable over the guidewire. The lumen of septal anchor 332 mayextend along an axis of the septal anchor 332. The lumen may slidablyreceive guidewire 311 therein so as to accommodate advancement of septalanchor 332 into heart H by advancing septal anchor 332 axially overguidewire 311 and into the right ventricle RV. Guidewire 311 may helpcontrol a position of septal anchor 332 and inhibit injury to tissuestructures along or within the heart H, right ventricle RV, and/or leftventricle LV, such as valve leaflets, chordae, papillary muscles, andthe like.

Similarly, pusher tube 336 includes a guidewire lumen (e.g., guidewirelumen 339 shown in FIG. 10F), through which guidewire 311 may beinserted. When guidewire 311 is inserted through the lumen of septalanchor 332 and pusher tube 336, guidewire 311 orients septal anchor 332in a fixed orientation (i.e., a low profile configuration) and axiallyaligns the lumens of septal anchor 332 and pusher tube 336. The lowprofile configuration allows septal anchor 332 to be easily insertedwithin and pushed through the lumen of delivery catheter 326. Pushertube 336 also includes a tether lumen, (e.g., tether lumen 341 shown inFIG. 10F), through which tether 333 is inserted.

FIG. 3I illustrates septal anchor 332 advanced through delivery catheter326 via pusher tube 336 into the right ventricle RV of heart H overguidewire 311. Guidewire 311 maintains septal anchor 332 in the axiallyaligned relationship with pusher tube 336 and tether 333. FIG. 3I alsoshows the guidewire 311 exiting pusher tube 336 via guidewire port 343and shows tether 333 exiting pusher tube 336 via tether port 345.Additional aspect of guidewire port 343 and tether port 345 are shown inFIG. 10. Because septal anchor 332 is guided into the right ventricle RVover guidewire 311, septal anchor 332 may be positioned virtuallyanywhere guidewire 311 is positioned, such near the pulmonary artery andthe like. Such positionability of septal anchor 332 allows sensitiveheart tissues, such as valve leaflets, chordae, papillary muscles, andthe like, to be avoided or contact therewith minimized. Further,positioning septal anchor 332 over guidewire 311 minimizes entanglementwith and/or contact between septal anchor 332 and sensitive hearttissues, such as valve leaflets, chordae, and the like, because septalanchor 332 is fixed in relation to tether 333 and pusher tube 336 andnot able to freely rotate and entangle with or contact such features ofheart H.

Septal anchor 332 may optionally be advanced into and/or within heart Hby pushing the anchor distally using a flexible compressive shaft ofpusher tube 336, 1036, or the like. In either case, the compressiveshaft being used as a pusher catheter may have separate lumens forguidewire 311 and tether 333 as shown, with both lumens extendingbetween the distal end and the proximal end of the catheter body. Morethan 2 lumens may also be provided, and the multi-lumen structure canenhance rotational control over septal anchor 332 about the axis oftether 333, and/or may facilitate orienting the arms of septal anchor332 by rotation of the pusher tube 336/1036 (optionally along withtether 333 and guidewire 311 therein) from outside the patient. In someembodiments, tether 333 may have an elongate cross-section and tetherlumen 341/1041 may have a corresponding elongate cross-section so as toenhance rotational control over the advanced septal anchor 332 afterguidewire 311 is pulled free of septal anchor 332, as can be understoodwith reference to the distal end of pusher tube 1036 shown in FIG. 10C,and with reference to the elongate cross-section of the large tetherlumen 341 of pusher catheter 336 shown in FIG. 10F. In some embodiments,one of the unnumbered lumens on either side of guidewire lumen 339 mayreceive guidewire 311.

FIG. 3J shows guidewire 311 being removed from the right ventricle viaguidewire port 343 and from the guidewire lumen of septal anchor 332.Removal of guidewire 311 from the guidewire lumen of septal anchor 332allows septal anchor 332 to pivot about pivot point 333 a so that septalanchor 332 is rotatable relative to tether 333. Control over thepivoting of septal anchor 332 may be provided by using leash 312 asshown in FIGS. 12A-12B. For example, once septal anchor 332 is disposedwithin right ventricle RV and beyond delivery catheter 326, guidewire311 can be removed and septal anchor 332 positioned transverse to tether333 by engagement between septal anchor 332 and the surface of septumSE, or by pulling on leash 312 extending through catheter 326 or pushertube 336. Radial positioning of septal anchor 332 can be provided byrotating the end of tether 333, which remains outside the patient.

FIG. 3J further shows a laterally deployable member 328, such asdeployable arms 1031 of pusher tube 1036 of FIGS. 10B-10C, deployed fromthe distal end of pusher tube 336 so as to stabilize the pusher tube 336and delivery catheter 326 relative to the beating heart tissue aroundleft ventricle LV. Suitable deployable members 328 may include amalecot, a pair of opposed deployable arms (optionally similar to thosedescribed below with reference to FIGS. 10B and 10C), a balloon, or thelike. Laterally deployable member 328 may be configured for engagementagainst an interior surface of the left ventricle LV or against theepicardial surface of the left ventricle (such as by having thedeployable structure spaced proximally of the distal end). Laterallydeployable member 328 may be used to urge septum SE toward external wallEW and thereby provide additional space within right ventricle RV forthe deployment of septal anchor 332 and/or may facilitate tensioning ofseptal anchor 332 and an epicardial anchor to reshape heart H. Someembodiments do not involve laterally deployable member 328 and septalanchor 332 is deployed directly within the space of right ventricle RV.Deployable members 328 may be deployed within right ventricle RV beforeor after guidewire 311 is removed and septal anchor 332 released fromthe fixed orientation.

FIG. 3K shows delivery catheter 326 and pusher tube 336 being removedfrom the right ventricle RV of heart H so that septal anchor 332 ispositioned against the surface of the wall of septum SE. Tether 333extends from septal anchor 332 through the aperture in septum SE andexternal wall EW to the exterior of heart H. Tension may be applied totension member 333 to urge septum SE toward external wall EW. FIG. 3Lshows an epicardial anchor 355 coupled with tension member 333 and beingadvanced toward external wall EW via anchor set tool 359. Epicardialanchor 355 includes a lumen 353 (shown in FIGS. 10, 10D, 10E, and15A-15D), through which tether 333 is inserted. Epicardial anchor 355has a spring cam structure 363 as more fully shown in FIGS. 15A-15D anddescribed in US Patent Publication No. US2010/0016655, as published onJan. 21, 2010 and entitled “Cardiac Anchor Structures, Methods, andSystems for treatment of Congestive Heart Failure and Other Conditions;”the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Thespring cam 363 allows epicardial anchor 355 to slide along tether 333toward septal anchor 332, but inhibits sliding of epicardial anchor 355away from septal anchor 332, so that the spring cam 363 effectivelymaintains a tissue engagement force between the anchors. This set-forceinteraction between tether 333 and epicardial anchor 355 is advantageousonce the proper force is applied, but it can be challenging to apply thedesired force when the heart is beating. To more accurately applyseptal/external wall engagement forces within a desired range, anchorset tool 359 can engage the cam spring mechanism 363 of epicardialanchor 355 so as to allow the anchor to slide both axial directionsalong tether 333 (shown in FIG. 10E), thereby configuring epicardialanchor 355 into a variable force mode. This allows a controlled force tobe applied between the tether 333 and epicardial anchor 355 despitebeating of the heart, with the force preferably being applied by a forceapplication tool 314 having an elongate shaft 316 as described in FIG.3M.

The applied anchor force may be an appropriate amount of force to bringexternal wall EW and septum SE into engagement while preventingmigration of epicardial anchor 355 and septal anchor 332 relative toexternal wall EW and septum SE, respectively. For example, the force maybe sufficient so that an inner surface of external wall EW and septum SEdirectly contact each other and so that epicardial anchor 355 and septalanchor 332 are secured tightly about external wall EW and septum SE,respectively, but not too strong to cause epicardial anchor 355 and/orseptal anchor 332 to be pulled through and/or into external wall EWand/or septum SE. The appropriate anchor force to sufficiently securethe anchors about the heart walls while preventing migration may fallwithin a range of forces, which may vary from patient to patient. Insome embodiments, the anchor force range may be between about 2 Newtonsand about 6 Newtons and in other embodiments, may be between about 3Newtons and about 4 Newtons. Such forces were found to be sufficientenough to prevent migration of the anchors without causing the anchorsto be pulled through the external wall EW and/or septum SE. Such forceswere also found to minimize necrosis of the tissue of external wall EWand/or septum SE surrounding the anchors.

The force application tool 314 may provide an indication (e.g., viaindicia 315) of the force applied so that a force within the desiredforce range may be applied to the anchors. Further, force applicationtool 314 and/or epicardial anchor 355 may be configured to apply theappropriate force while the heart is beating. For example, the variableforce mode of epicardial anchor 355, allowing proximal and distalmovement of epicardial anchor 355 about tether 333, and/or a springmechanism 313 of force application tool 314 may allow epicardial anchor355 and force application tool 314 to compensate for movement of heart Has the heart beats and as the desired anchor force is applied to ensurethat too little or too much force is not applied. Force application tool314 may also be configured so that the applied anchor force cannotexceed a predetermined value. For example, force application tool 314may be configured so that an operator of force application tool 314cannot apply an anchor force greater than 6 Newtons, or in someembodiments, greater than 4 Newtons. In this manner, necrosis of hearttissue, migration of the anchors, pulling of the anchors through theheart tissue, and/or other potential problems associated with excessiveor insufficient anchor forces may be minimized or eliminated.

As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 10D, 10E, and 15A-15D, to engage thecam spring mechanism 363 of epicardial anchor 355, anchor set tool 359may include a pair of hooks 368 that are positionable around a pair ofarms 364 that are in turn connected to cam spring mechanism 363 orotherwise operational therewith. A retractable rod 367 may be positionedbetween the pair of hooks 368. Rod 367 may be retracted within a sheath371 or extended therefrom upon actuation of a retracting device, such asa rotatable cap 357. In operation, the pair of hooks 368 may be clampedaround arms 364 so that housing 365 is positioned between hooks 368.Retracting device (e.g., rotatable cap 357) is then operated so that rod367 extends from sheath 371 and contacts housing surface 366. Furtheroperation of retracting device (e.g., rotatable cap 357) forces rod 367to push on housing surface 366, which causes hooks 368 to pull on arms364, which in turn causes cam spring mechanism 363 to rotate so that thecam rotates away from contact with tether 333 thereby permittingepicardial anchor 355 to slide both toward and away from septal anchor332. Similarly, retracting device (e.g., rotatable cap 357) may beoperated in a reverse manner so that rod 367 is retracted within sheath371 and arms 364 resiliently return to a position in which the camrotates to contact tether 333 thereby inhibiting epicardial anchor 355from sliding away from septal anchor 332. Arms 364 may act as a springto bias the cam toward tether 333 and lock epicardial anchor 355 abouttether 333. The retracting device (e.g., rotatable cap 357) may beoperated from outside the patient body so as to lock/reconfigureepicardial anchor 355 in the set force mode or unlock/reconfigureepicardial anchor 255 in the variable force mode.

Alternative embodiments of an epicardial anchor structure, 1700 and1800, are shown in FIGS. 17-18B. Epicardial anchor structures, 1700 and1800, can be advanced axially through a working lumen (optionallythrough a working lumen of the epicardial hemostasis device describedherein) and can also be reconfigured between a set-force mode and avariable-force mode through the access lumen. Epicardial anchorstructures, 1700 and 1800, may include a lock plate 1720 or a pair oflock plates within lumen body 1710. The lock plate or plates 1720 mayinclude an aperture through which tether 333 is inserted. Lock plates1720 may be biased toward a distal end of epicardial anchor structures,1700 and 1800, via a spring 1730 disposed within lumen body 1710.Locking plates 1720 may pivot within lumen body 1710 to assume a lockposition and grip tether 333 and thereby lock epicardial anchorstructures, 1700 and 1800, about tether 333 to prevent proximal movementof the anchors relative to tether 333. Locking plates 1720 may alsopivot within body lumen 1710 to assume an unlock position and disengagetether 333 and thereby allow epicardial anchor structures, 1700 and1800, to move distally and proximally relative to tether 333. Spring1730 may bias locking plates 1720 toward the lock position. For example,the aperture of lock plates 1720 may have a shape corresponding totether 333 and may be sized slightly larger than tether 333. In theunlock position, lock plates 1720 may assume a vertical position withinlumen body 1710, or put another way, lock plates may have asubstantially perpendicular orientation with respect to tether 333.Because the aperture of lock plates 1720 corresponds in shape to tether333 and is sized slightly larger, tether 333 is able to freely passthrough the aperture. In the lock position, lock plates 1720 may assumean angled orientation with respect to tether 333, which causes theaperture of lock plates 1720 to kink, grip, or otherwise grasp tether333 and prevents movement of tether 333 through the aperture. In someembodiments, epicardial anchor structures, 1700 and 1800, may movedistally along tether 333 when lock plates 1720 are in the lock positionand only proximal motion may be limited.

Optionally, reconfiguring locking plates 1720 between the lock andunlock position, or in other words pivoting the locking plates so as togrip or disengage tether 333, may be effected by axial rotation of alumen body 1710 as shown in FIGS. 17B and 17C. Alternatively, a movableactuator or pin 1802, which engages locking plates 1720 in the unlockposition, may be removed to allow the locking plates 1720 to assume thelock position. Rotation of lumen 1710 and/or removal of pin 1802 may beeffected from along a working lumen to reconfigure locking plates 1720.

In operation, epicardial anchor 355 is positioned adjacent external wallEW of heart H and epicardial anchor structure, 1700 or 1800, is insertedover tether 333 in the variable force mode to adjacent epicardial anchor355. A desired anchor force is then applied to epicardial anchor 355 andseptal anchor 332 and epicardial anchor structure, 1700 or 1800, isreconfigured to the set force mode to lock epicardial anchor structure,1700 or 1800, about tether 333 and prevent proximal movement ofepicardial anchor structure, 1700 or 1800, relative to tether 333. Theapplied anchor force may inhibit migration of the anchors as describedherein.

Returning now to FIG. 3L, epicardial anchor 355 may be slide or advancedalong tether 333 until epicardial anchor 355 contact external wall EW(shown by position 351). As briefly mentioned above, FIG. 3M shows aforce being applied by force application tool 314. Additional aspects offorce application tool 314 are shown in FIG. 10. Force application tool314 may be a relatively simple structure similar to a scale, typicallyhaving a force spring 313 and indicia 315 showing when a force in adesired range is being applied such as by showing deflection of thespring to a position within a desired range. By sliding the shaft 316 ofthe force application tool 314 over tether 333, engaging the surface ofepicardial anchor 355 with a compression surface of the shaft 316, andapplying force between the tether 333 and the force application tool 314till the desired deflection is identified, the desired force may beapplied between septal anchor 332 and epicardial anchor 355. While thatforce is applied, anchor set tool 359 may disengage the cam lockmechanism 363 of epicardial anchor 355, thereby reconfiguring epicardialanchor 355 from the variable-force mode to the set-force mode.Alternatively, if epicardial anchor structures, 1700 or 1800, are used,rotatable feature 1702 or movable actuator 1802 may be operated toreconfigure epicardial anchor structures, 1700 or 1800, to the set-forcemode and thereby secure or anchor epicardial anchor 355 about tether333.

The force application tool 314 and anchor set tool 359 can then beremoved as shown in FIG. 3N and the tether 333 extending away from theheart from epicardial anchor 355 can be cut and removed, leavingepicardial anchor 355 and septal anchor 332 anchored or secured so thatthe septum SE and external wall EW contact or so a volume of the leftventricle LV is reduced. Pressure by epicardial anchor 355 againstexternal wall EW inhibits blood flow out of the left ventricle LV alongthe epicardial access path, while pressure of septal anchor 332 againstthe septum SE inhibits blood flow from the left ventricle LV to theright ventricle RV. Known techniques can be used for closure of thevascular access of delivery catheter 326 and the minimally invasiveaccess to the epicardium. FIG. 3O shows that the above process can berepeated so that multiple epicardial anchors 355 and septal anchors 332are positioned against the septum SE and external wall EW to reduce avolume of the left ventricle LV.

Epicardial anchor 355 and/or septal anchor 332 may include an outerlayer of ingrowth material, such as layer 362 of FIG. 10D, whichpromotes scar tissue growth around the anchors. The ingrowth materialmay comprise a polyester fabric. Similarly, an elongate flexible body380 of ingrowth material may be positioned between the septum SE andexternal wall EW as shown in FIG. 3L to promote tissue growth betweenthe septum SE and external wall EW after the septum SE and external wallare brought into engagement. The flexible body 380 may include anaperture that slidably receives tether 333 therethrough so that flexiblebody 380 extends laterally from tether 333. The aperture mayrotationally couple flexible body 380 to tether 333 so as to facilitateorienting the flexible body 380 by rotation of tether 333. Flexible body380 may be positionable between septum SE and external wall EW byadvancement of flexible body 380 over tether 333.

Referring now to FIGS. 10, 10A, and 10D-10F, shown are the various toolsthat may be used in the process described in relation to FIGS. 3A-3O.FIGS. 10 and 10A show the delivery catheter 326, which includes a lumen317 that extends between a proximal end 318 and a distal end 319.Various other catheters or tools, such dilating catheter 324, loadingcartridge 334, and pusher tube 336 may be inserted partially or fullywithin lumen 317. Delivery Catheter 326 includes a hemostasis valve (notshown) located at the proximal end 318, which minimizes blood lossduring the minimally invasive surgery.

FIGS. 10, 10A, and 10E show the dilating catheter 324 having thetapering threaded tip 325 and a lumen 323 extending between a proximalend 318 a and a distal end 319 a of dilating catheter 324. The guidewire311 is insertable through the lumen 323 so that the dilating cathetermay be inserted over the guidewire along an access path, which may be anarcuate path, and through one or more walls of the heart as describedherein. FIGS. 10A and 10E show a detail view of the tapering threadedtip 325. The threads contact, grip, and/or cut tissue of the heart wallas the dilating catheter 324 is rotated and inserted through the wall.This minimizes the axial forces exerted against the heart wall, whichmay reduce arrhythmia and other conditions of the heart resulting fromsuch axial stress. In some instances, the heart wall (e.g., septum SEand/or external wall EW) comprises tough scar tissue, which may bedifficult to penetrate.

FIGS. 10 and 10F show aspects of the pusher tube 336 and loadingcartridge 334. FIG. 10F shows the pusher tube 336 having 4 lumens, whichinclude the guidewire lumen 339, through which guidewire 311 isinserted, and tether lumen 341, through which tether 333 is inserted.Guidewire 311 may be inserted within guidewire lumen 339 at a distal end319 b of pusher tube 336 and exit pusher tube 336 via guidewire port 343at a proximal end 318 b. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, tether 333 maybe inserted within tether lumen 341 at distal end 319 b and exit pushertube 336 via tether port 345 at proximal end 318 b. Loading cartridge334 may be coupled with pusher tube 336 at distal end 319 b and insertedwithin lumen 317 of delivery catheter 326.

FIGS. 10, 10D, and 10E show aspects of septal anchor 332, epicardialanchor 355, anchor set tool 359, and tether 333. Specifically, thefigures show septal anchor 332 coupled with tether 333 at pivot point333 a. The figures also show epicardial anchor 355 with lumen 353through which tether 333 is inserted as shown in FIG. 10E. FIG. 10Dshows epicardial anchor 355 disconnected from anchor set tool 359. FIG.10D also shows sheath 371, retractable post 367, and hooks 368 of anchorset tool 359 and shows outer layer 362, housing surface 366, lumen 353,and arms 364 of epicardial anchor 355. As described previously, hooks368 are used to grip arms 364 and post 367 contacts housing surface 366to actuate cam 363 upon actuation of rotatable cap 357 and therebyconfigure epicardial anchor 355 in either a variable force mode or a setforce mode. As shown in FIG. 10E, epicardial anchor 355 is slidablealong the length of tether 333 when epicardial anchor is in the variableforce mode. When epicardial anchor is in the set force mode, epicardialanchor 355 may be slid toward septal anchor 332, but not away therefrom.

FIG. 10 also shows force application tool 314 having an elongate shaft316, force spring 313, and indicia 315 as described previously. Indicia315 may include a series of marks spaced along elongate shaft 316. Forcespring 313 and indicia 315 are housed within main body 307, which may bemade of a clear material so that indicia 315 is visible from outsidemain body 307. Force application tool 314 includes a lumen 309 thatextends between a proximal end 318 c and a distal end 319 c throughwhich tether 333 is inserted. Force application tool 314 applies a forceagainst epicardial anchor 355 as tether 333 is tensioned from proximalend 318 c and main body 307 is pushed toward epicardial anchor 355.

Referring now to FIGS. 10B and 10C, shown is another embodiment of apusher tube 1036, which may be inserted through lumen 317 of deliverycatheter 326. Similar to pusher tube 336, pusher tube 1036 includes fourlumens. Guidewire lumen 1039 is a lumen through which guidewire 311 maybe inserted. Guidewire lumen 1039 extends from distal end 1019 toguidewire port 1043 at proximal end 1018. Similarly, tether lumen 1041is a lumen through which tether 333 may be inserted. Tether lumen 1041extends from distal end 1019 to tether port 1045 at proximal end 1018.Pusher tube 1036 also includes a pair of opposed deployable arms 1031,which are housed within lumens 1052 and deployable axially and laterallytherefrom. Deployable arms 1031 may be deployed so that the armsradially extend from pusher tube 1036. Deployable arms 1031 may then beengaged against an interior surface of one of the heart walls tostabilize pusher tube 1036 and/or delivery catheter 326 and facilitatein deployment of septal anchor 332 and/or epicardial anchor 335. In someembodiments, pusher tube 1036 includes a malecot and/or balloon, whichprovides a similar function to deployable arms 1031. Further, in someembodiments, deployable arms comprise nitinol springs and are deployablefrom lumens 1052 or retractable within lumens 1052 upon rotation of mainbody 1050 or upon operation of an actuation device located at proximalend 1018.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A-11C, shown is another embodiment of adelivery catheter 1126. Delivery catheter 1126 may replace the separatedelivery catheter 326 and pusher tube 336 by combining these tools intoone tool. Delivery catheter 1126 may include a catheter body 1142 havinga tapered distal tip 1124 at distal end 1119 and a sheath 1145 disposedover catheter body 1142 proximally of tapered distal tip 1124. Sheath1145 may be proximally retractable relative to catheter body 1142 toexpose anchor receptacle 1144, which houses septal anchor 332. Anchorreceptacle 1144 may be coupled with tether port 1143 at proximal end1118 so that tether 333 extends along the length of catheter body 1142from proximal end 1118 to anchor receptacle 1144. Catheter body 1142 mayinclude a guidewire lumen through which guidewire 311 may be inserted.The guidewire lumen may extend along catheter body 1142 and couple withguidewire port 1145 through which guidewire 311 exits delivery catheter1126. Sheath 1145 may include a stop 1160 which limits proximalretraction of sheath 1145 by contacting main body 1150. In someembodiments, stop 1150 is positioned adjacent external wall EW andcatheter body 1142 is advanced distally to expose anchor receptacle1144.

Septal anchor 332 may be laterally deployable from anchor receptacle1144 as shown in FIG. 11C. Catheter body 1142 may include a slopeddeployment member 1170 that facilitates in lateral deployment of septalanchor 332 from anchor receptacle 1144 as septal anchor 332 is distallyadvanced relative to delivery catheter 1126.

Operation of delivery catheter 1126 is similar to delivery catheter 326described in FIGS. 3A-3O in that guidewire 311 is inserted throughexternal wall EW and septum SE into right ventricle RV and deliverycatheter 1126 is inserted over guidewire 311 into right ventricle RV.One difference is that septal anchor 332 need not include a lumenthrough which guidewire 311 is inserted since septal anchor 332 ishoused within anchor receptacle 1144 and inserted into right ventricleRV while housed within anchor receptacle 1144. Tapered distal tip 1124dilates the aperture through external wall EW and/or septum SE asdelivery catheter is inserted through the respective wall. Although notshown, tapered distal tip 1124 may be threaded as described herein.After distal end 1119 of delivery catheter 1126 is positioned withinright ventricle RV, sheath 1145 is proximally retracted (or catheterbody is distally advanced) exposing anchor receptacle 1144. Septalanchor 332 is then laterally deployed from anchor receptacle 1144 viadeployment member 1170 by distally advancing septal anchor 332 relativeto catheter body 1142. With septal anchor 332 deployed within rightventricle RV, delivery catheter 1126 may be removed and epicardialanchor 355 secured to tether 333 as described herein to limit the volumeof left ventricle LV. In some embodiments, delivery catheter 1126 maycomprise a flexible material to allow delivery catheter 1126 to followan arcuate epicardial access path defined by guidewire 311.

Referring now to FIG. 4A, joining of an access path through the rightatrium to an access path through the pericardium and epicardium bysnaring of a guidewire within the right ventricle under thoracoscopicguidance 20 is schematically illustrated. The right atrial access pathmay extend into the arterial vasculature via the femoral artery FA andinferior vena cava IVC, via the jugular artery JA via the superior venacava SVC, or the like. As can be understood with reference to FIG. 4B, aselected location for perforation of the external wall EW can beidentified using an image from thoracoscope 20, optionally incombination with an image from another imaging modality (such as a prioror contemporaneous image from an ultrasound imaging system, an MRIimaging system, an X-ray or fluoroscopic imaging system, a CT imagingsystem, or the like). In exemplary embodiments, a rigid or semi-rigidshaft of an access tool 22 having a working lumen therethrough isadvanced through the epicardium of the beating heart so that a distalend of the shaft is disposed within the left ventricle LV. Access tool22 may comprise a relatively simple needle or trocar, an may have aproximal hemostasis valve at its proximal end so as to inhibit bloodflow through the lumen and facilitate insertion and/or removal of aguidewire and the like. In some embodiments, access tool 22 may have atissue penetrating sharpened distal end to facilitate distal insertion,and/or a stylus may be removably disposed within the lumen. Optionalembodiments of access tool 22 may have an energy delivery surface at ornear the distal end so as to deliver radiofrequency energy, laserenergy, or the like to facilitate penetrating the tissue of the externalwall EW. Suitable RF penetrating structures may be commerciallyavailable from (or modified from those available from) Baylis Medical ofToronto Canada.

Still referring to FIG. 4B, access tool 22 may optionally include alaterally deployable structure near the distal end so as to stabilizethe access tool relative to the beating heart tissue around the leftventricle. Suitable deployable stabilizing structures may include amalecott, a pair of opposed deployable arms (optionally similar to thosedescribed below with reference to FIGS. 10B and 10C), or the like. Thelaterally deployable distal structure may be configured for engagementagainst an interior surface of the left ventricle LV or against theepicardial surface of the left ventricle (such as by having thedeployable structure spaced proximally of the distal end). Regardless,once access tool 22 is disposed within the left ventricle, a catheter 24may be advanced through the working lumen of access tool 22, into theleft ventricle, and through a target location of the septum S. Aguidewire 26 will also be inserted through the left ventricle and septumas shown. A variety of structures and techniques can be used forperforating the septum, with the catheter optionally being used topenetrate the septum in some embodiments, with the catheter optionallyhaving a sharpened end, a removable stylus, an energy delivery surface,or the like. When catheter 24 perforates the septum, the catheter willoften have steering capabilities so as to facilitate perforation at atarget location, though in some embodiments catheter 24 may be steeredusing steering capabilities of the guidewire within the working lumen, asteering catheter extending around the catheter and through the workinglumen of access tool 22, or the like. In other embodiments, guidewire 26may be used to perforate through the septum, with the guidewireoptionally having an energy delivery tip and/or steering capabilities,with the catheter being advanced through the septum over the guidewire.Exemplary steerable guidewires with RF penetrating tips include thosecommercially available from (or may be derived from those availablefrom) Baylis Medical of Toronto Canada.

A wide variety of alternative septum perforation approaches might beemployed, including using atrial septum perforation structures andtechniques (or structures and techniques derived therefrom). Forexample, mechanical systems may employ a sharpened distal tip and axialpenetration (such as using structures commercially available from—orstructures derived from the SafeSept™ transseptal guidewire commerciallyavailable from Adaptive Surgical, LLC; the Across Transseptal AccessSystem commercially available from StJude, or the like, a rotatableangled blade, the transseptal puncturing structures and methodsdescribed by Wittkampf et al, in US2011/0087261, or the like. RF systemsmay employ a proprietary tissue penetrating structure or may energize anoff-the-shelf transseptal needle with RF energy, as was described byKnecth et al. in an article entitled “Radiofrequency Puncture of theFossa Ovalis for Resistant Transseptal Access,” Circ ArrhythmElectrophysiol 1, 169 (2008). Laser-energy transseptal approaches mayalso be employed, including structures commercially available from (orderived from those commercially available from) Spectranetics andothers.

Once catheter 24 is advanced through the septum, the working lumen ofthe catheter may be used to access the right ventricle from outside thepatient, with the guidewire optionally being removed and replaced(particularly when the guidewire has been used to perforate the septum)with another guidewire, or remaining for use in joining the accesspaths. To facilitate use of catheter 24 as a right ventricle access tooland swapping guidewires or the like, a hemostasis valve may be providedat a proximal end of the catheter.

Referring now to FIGS. 4C-4E, a distal end of catheter 30 may beadvanced to the right ventricle RV through the right atrium RA andassociated vasculature using known techniques, so that catheter 30provides a right ventricle access tool. Optionally, a snare tool has adistal portion configured to engage a distal portion of the guidewire.For example, distal snare 32 may be separated from a proximal end of asnare body by sufficient length of the snare body to allow the snare tobe manipulated within the right ventricle from the proximal end ofcatheter 30. Snare 32 may be biased to open when advanced beyondcatheter 30, allowing the catheter to be positioned near the septumaround the epicardial path of catheter 24. Advancing guidewire 26through the opening of snare 32 and withdrawing snare 32 into catheter30 so that the guidewire is bent as it enters the distal end of catheter30 axially couples the guidewire to the snare.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, there may be advantages to employingalternative elongate flexible bodies to couple the access paths withinthe heart. For example, a guidewire-like elongate body with a proximalend and a distal portion formed as a basket 34 may be expanded in theright ventricle so that the basket encompasses a volume within the rightventricle. In some embodiments, the basket may be withdrawn back intocatheter 24 or 30 so as to capture a guidewire extending from the other,thereby joining the paths. In other embodiments, a guidewire-likeelongate flexible body 36 having short lateral distal protrusion or barbcan be advanced a relatively short distance into a target portion of thebasket and withdrawn back into the catheter so as to capture a member ofbasket 34, with the target portion of the basket being separated fromsensitive heart tissues (such as valve leaflets or chordae) by theexpansion of the basket. Optionally, the basket 34 may be advancedtoward or into the right atrium before engaging the basket with thedistal portion of flexible body 36. An exemplary basket structure andassociated access catheter are shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 7, still alternative distal end portions may beused to help couple the flexible bodies advanced into the heart via theright atrial and epicardial access paths. In this embodiment, catheter30 is advanced through the right atrium and the right ventricle to thepulmonary artery PA. Snare 32 is expanded in the pulmonary artery PA. Adistal balloon 40 mounted to a flexible tubular body 38 is advancedthrough catheter 24 into the right ventricle. Balloon 40 is inflatedfrom a distal end of the flexible body 38 via an inflation lumen of theflexible body, and the balloon is allowed to flow with the blood of theheart into a pulmonary artery PA. The balloon is captured by the snare.Note that the access catheter 24, 30 associated with the variousflexible bodies described above may be switched, so that (for example)balloon 40 may be advanced through catheter 30 along the right atrialaccess path, while snare 32 may be advanced along catheter 24 along theepicardial approach. Regardless of the specific end portions of theflexible bodies employed to axially couple the flexible bodies, couplingof the pathways allows guidewire 26 to be inserted into the body alongone of the paths and withdrawn out of the body from along the other pathso that both a first end 42 and a second end 44 of the guidewire aredisposed outside the heart and the patient. The result is the guidewireextending from a first end disposed outside the patient, into the rightventricle of the heart along the epicardial access path, and back out ofthe heart and the patient through the left ventricle along theepicardial access path, as shown in FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIG. 9, once guidewire 26 extends from the first end,into the right ventricle along the epicardial access path, and back outthe heart and patient through the left ventricle along the epicardialaccess path, septal anchor 32 and tether 33 may be advanced overguidewire 26 into right ventricle RV and/or adjacent septum SE. Tether33 may be advanced over guidewire 26 as shown in FIGS. 13A-14C and maybe advanced ahead of septal anchor 32 so that tether 33 extends fromadjacent septum SE, through left ventricle LV, to outside the patientbody as shown in FIG. 9. Guidewire 26 may then be removed so that septalanchor 32 may rotate relative to tether 33 as described herein.Epicardial anchor 35 may them be coupled with tether 33 and advancedadjacent external wall EW, a force may be applied between epicardialanchor 35 and tether 33, and epicardial anchor 35 may be securedrelative to tether 33 and septal anchor 32 as described herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 13A-14C, alternative embodiments of the systemsmay be configured to deliver septal anchor 32 to the right atrium alongthe right atrial path, typically with septal anchor 32 trailing behindtether 33. An end of tether 16 is generally disposed opposite of anchor32, and may include features to maintain the tether in alignment alongthe guidewire, and may also axially couple the tether to the guidewire.For example, a channel such as angled channel, 64 a or 64 b, may receivethe guidewire 31 therein, allowing the tether to be pushed axially overthe guidewire. One or more additional channels 66 (shown in FIG. 13C)through tether 33 toward anchor 32 may help limit bowing of the tether33 away from guidewire 31 when tether 33 is pushed axially overguidewire 31. As can be understood with reference to FIGS. 14A-14C, end70 of tether 33 is advanced over guidewire 31 and into a proximalhemostasis valve 29 of catheter 30. By continuing to push tether 33 intocatheter 30, and/or by pulling guidewire 31 from the end extending fromthe epicardial path, end 70 of tether 33 may be advanced into andthrough the septum SE and external wall EW so that end 70 is disposedoutside the heart and the patient. Optionally, tether 33 may be advancedalong the epicardial path alongside guidewire 31. In other embodiments,catheter 30 or another catheter body may be advanced over the guidewirewith tether 33 disposed in a lumen.

Referring now to FIGS. 10J-10N, illustrated are various components thatmay be used to guide the septal anchor 32 and tether 33 over guidewire26 into right ventricle RV and/or adjacent septum SE. These componentsare especially useful in the anchor placement method shown in FIG. 9 andmay be an alternative to the guidewire 26—tether 33 coupling featuresshown in FIGS. 13A-13C and described herein. FIG. 10J illustrates theseptal anchor 32 and tether 33 as described herein. A lumen extendsaxially through the septal anchor 32 and is configured to receive arelease wire 31 a, or in some embodiments the guidewire, to allow theseptal anchor 32 to be delivered and positioned in the heart. A guidancemember 80 may be coupled with a distal end 37 of tether 33 as describedin more detail below to allow the tether 33 and septal anchor 32 to beconveniently guided into the heart. The guidance member 80 may beconfigured to pass over to the guidewire 31 to guide the septal anchor32 and tether 33 into position within the heart. An insertion catheter50 may also be used to support the septal anchor 32 during insertion ofthe septal anchor 32 and tether 33. Insertion catheter 50 may include ahemostasis valve 54.

FIGS. 10K and 10L illustrate the insertion catheter 50 being used tosupport septal anchor 32. Specifically, insertion catheter 50 has areceiving portion or anchor receptacle 52 within which septal anchor 32may be positioned. Anchor receptacle 52 supports septal anchor 32 whenthe anchor is placed therein. Release wire 31 a, or in some embodimentsthe guidewire, is inserted through a lumen of insertion catheter 50 andthrough the axial lumen of septal anchor 32 when septal anchor 32 ispositioned within anchor receptacle 52. Release wire 31 a is furtherinserted through a lumen of a distal most portion of insertion catheter50 (i.e., a portion positioned distally of anchor receptacle 52 andseptal anchor 32) and may extend distally beyond insertion catheter 50as shown in FIG. 10L. In this manner, septal anchor 32 may be “locked”in place within anchor receptacle 52 as shown in FIG. 10L. Insertioncatheter 50 and septal anchor 32 may be advanced over the guidewiretogether via guidance member 80, or in some other manner. In oneembodiment, insertion catheter 50 and septal anchor 32 may be advancedover the guidewire by inserting the guidewire through the lumen ofinsertion catheter 50 and the axial lumen of septal anchor 32. Whenseptal anchor 32 is positioned within the right ventricle RV or anyother desired area, the release wire 31 a is proximally retractedthrough the anchor receptacle 52 to “unlock” septal anchor 32 from theinsertion catheter 50 and allow septal anchor 32 to freely rotate abouttether 33. Tether 33 is typically aligned axially with insertioncatheter 50 and advanced distally thereof.

FIGS. 10M & 10N illustrate guidance member or catheter 80 being coupledwith a distal end 37 of tether 33. Specifically, FIG. 10M shows anenlarged view of the distal end 37 of tether 33 and a proximal end 82 ofguidance member 80 axially aligned and separated from one another. Theproximal end 82 of guidance member 80 is axially aligned with tether 33and subsequently coupled with the distal end 37 of tether 33. In oneembodiment, the proximal end 82 of guidance member 80 includes internalthreads, or a cap having internal threads, which may be threaded ontothe distal end 37 of tether 33. The threads lock or hold the coupledmembers in place. In another embodiment, the proximal end 82 of guidancemember 80 may include a hollow portion that is press fit or snapped ontothe distal end 37 of tether 33. In other embodiments, the proximal end82 of guidance member 80 is inserted or threaded within the distal end37 of tether 33. Various other means of coupling the opposing ends ofthe two members may also be used.

FIG. 10N shows tether 33 coupled with guidance member 80 by the distalend 37 being threaded within the proximal end or cap 82 of guidancemember. Once coupled, tether 33 is axially aligned with guidance member80. In this configuration, guidance member 80 simplifies insertion andpositioning of tether 33 and septal anchor 32 within the heart. Asdescribed herein, the septal anchor system (i.e., tether 33 and septalanchor 32) are often inserted into the body with the tether 33 insertedfirst and advanced distally of septal anchor 32. The guidance member 80improves the insertability of the tether 33 since the guidance member isaxially aligned and coupled directly with tether 33. Further, as shownin FIG. 10N, a distal portion 84 of guidance member 80 includes a lumenthrough which guidewire 31 is inserted, which allows guidance member 80to be inserted over the guidewire 31 and through the heart. A distal endof guidance member 80 may be tapered to ease insertion of guidancemember 80 through the heart. In some embodiments, the lumen of guidancemember 80 through which guidewire 31 is inserted may be configured tofit tightly around guidewire 31 to allow the guidance member 80 to bepulled through the body by pulling guidewire 31. In other embodiments,the lumen of guidance member 80 may slide freely along guidewire 31 sothat the guidewire may remain relatively in place as the guidance member80, tether 33, and/or septal anchor 32 are passed over the guidewire 31.

The guidance member 80 and tether 33 may be advanced over guidewire 31into right ventricle RV and/or adjacent septum SE. By continuing to pushtether 33 and/or by pulling guidewire 31 from the end extending from theepicardial path, guidance member 80 and tether 33 may be advanced intoand through the septum SE and external wall EW so that guidance member80 and distal end 37 of tether 33 are disposed outside the heart and thepatient. Guidance member 80 and tether 33 may be advanced over guidewire31 and ahead of septal anchor 32 so that tether 33 extends from adjacentseptum SE, through left ventricle LV, to outside the patient body asshown in FIG. 9. Release wire 31 a may then be proximally retracted sothat septal anchor 32 may be unlocked from anchor receptacle 52 and ableto rotate relative to tether 33. Insertion catheter 50 may then beremoved. An epicardial anchor 35 may then be coupled with tether 33 andadvanced adjacent external wall EW, a force may be applied betweenepicardial anchor 35 and tether 33, and epicardial anchor 35 may besecured relative to tether 33 and septal anchor 32 as described herein.In some embodiments, insertion catheter 50 may be inserted within ahemostasis valve (e.g., 29) of another catheter (e.g., 30).

Referring now to FIGS. 16A-16D, an epicardial access tool may facilitateboth access to the epicardium and hemostasis of the epicardial accesspath. A shaft of the epicardial access tool extends from a proximalhandle to a circumferential series of distal radial compressionfeatures. A working lumen of the access tool shaft allows the variousaccess tools to be advanced along a tissue tract from outside thepatient to an epicardial surface region encompassing the epicardialaccess path. The compression features are oriented to engage tissue ofthe external wall and urge the engaged tissue radially inwardly when thehandle is actuated. In the exemplary embodiment, filaments extendaxially from the handle along the shaft to each compression feature, andthen turn laterally from that compression feature to another compressionfeature. Actuation of the handle pulls the filaments, thereby pullingthe compression features radially inwardly.

Alternative epicardial access tools may employ suction to grip andstabilize the epicardial surface of the heart, somewhat analogous to theengagement between known heart stabilization tools and the heart as usedfor beating-heart coronary arterial bypass grafting and the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 19A-19D, a variety of minimally alternativeanchor locking structures and access methods may be employed to decreasecollateral tissue trauma when applying the controlled anchoring force.Such minimally invasive anchor locks may benefit from atissue-engagement component that distributes anchoring loads laterallybetween anchors so as to promote apposition of the walls of the heartalong a desired contour and help provide the desired ventricular shapeafter implantation of a multi-anchor implant system. Toward that end, afolding anchor component 1911 may comprise an at least substantiallyrigid elongate body having a passage traversing therethrough, with achannel extending along opposing surfaces of the body from the aperture.One of the channels may optionally extend through the body, allowing thebody to be advanced laterally over tether 1916 so that the tetherextends through the body at the passage. Other embodiments may employpassages in the form of apertures, so that the tether 1916 is passedaxially through the passage. Regardless, the channels receive the tether1916 so that the anchor component 1911 can pivot toward axial alignmentwith tether 1916, allowing the anchor component to be advanced overtether 1916 through a working lumen of an access tool or sheath 1913, asshown in FIG. 19B. Once anchor component 1911 is distal of sheath 1913and proximal of the epicardial surface of the heart H, the anchorcomponent 1911 can be pivoted relative to tether 1916 and slid distallyalong tether 1916 into engagement with the epicardial surface of heartH, as shown in FIGS. 19C and 19D. A relatively small profile (ascompared to the pivoted anchor component 1911) locking anchor component,such as epicardial anchor 355, can then be advanced axially over tether1916 through sheath 1913 and into engagement with the anchor component1911 so as to provide the desired anchoring force. Anchor component 1911may comprise a metal or high-strength polymer structure, such as astainless steel, a Nitinol shape memory alloy, PEEK, or the like.

While the exemplary embodiments have been described in some detail forclarity of understanding and by way of example, a variety ofmodification, adaptations, and changes will be obvious to those of skillin the art. Hence, the scope of the present invention is limited solelyby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for treating a heart of a patientcomprising: a guidewire insertable through a first wall of the heartinto a chamber of the heart; a delivery catheter having a first end, asecond end, and a lumen extending between the first end and the secondend, the delivery catheter being insertable over the guidewire throughthe first wall; a first anchor comprising a lumen configured to receivethe guidewire so that the first anchor is insertable over the guidewirethrough the first wall via the delivery catheter; a tension membercoupled with the first anchor to urge the first wall against a secondwall; and a second anchor slidably coupled with the tension member;wherein the second anchor is operable in a variable force mode and a setforce mode; wherein the variable force mode allows the second anchor toslide proximally and distally along the tension member and the set forcemode inhibits movement of the second anchor proximally or distally alongthe tension member; wherein the guidewire is axially insertable throughthe lumen of the first anchor to maintain the first anchor in a lowprofile configuration in which the first anchor and lumen are alignedwith an opening of the first wall and with the delivery catheter;wherein the guidewire is removable from the lumen of the first anchor toreorient the first anchor to a deployed configuration in which the firstanchor and lumen are not aligned with the opening of the first wall;wherein a channel is formed in a distal end of the delivery catheter,the channel being configured to receive the first anchor such that atleast a portion of the first anchor is exposed to an environmentsurrounding the delivery catheter; and wherein the channel and deliverycatheter are configured so that positioning of the guidewire within thelumen of the first anchor secures the first anchor within the channeland removal of the guidewire from the lumen of the first anchor allowsremoval of the first anchor from the channel.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the lumen of the first anchor extends along an axis of anelongate structure.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising adilating catheter having a first end, a second end, and a lumenextending between the first end and the second end, the lumen beingconfigured to receive the guidewire so that the dilating catheter isinsertable through the first wall along a path defined by the guidewire,the dilating catheter comprising a dilating feature disposed toward thesecond end that dilates an aperture of the first wall as the dilatingcatheter is inserted through the first wall.
 4. The system of claim 1,further comprising a pusher tube insertable through the lumen of thedelivery catheter, the pusher tube comprising a first end, a second end,a first lumen extending between the first end and the second end throughwhich the tension member is insertable, and a second lumen extendingbetween the first end and the second end through which the guidewire isinsertable, wherein the pusher tube is configured to push the firstanchor through the lumen.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the lumen ofthe first anchor is axially aligned with the second lumen of the pushertube when the guidewire is inserted through both the second lumen of thepusher tube and through the lumen of the first anchor, wherein the axialalignment of the first anchor and the pusher tube facilitate insertionof the first anchor through the delivery catheter.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first anchor comprises a first end and a secondend, and wherein the lumen extends between the first end and the secondend, wherein when the guidewire is not inserted through the lumen, thefirst anchor is rotatable relative to the tension member.
 7. The systemof claim 1, further comprising a guidance member having a distal end anda proximal end, the proximal end being couplable with a distal end ofthe tension member, and the guidance member having a lumen that isconfigured to receive the guidewire to allow the guidance member to beadvanced over the guidewire distally of the tension member and firstanchor.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a force-applicationtool configured for applying a desired anchor force between the firstand second anchors, wherein the second anchor is configured for changingfrom the variable force mode to the set force mode while the axialforce-application tool applies the desired anchor force between thetension member and the second anchor.
 9. The system of claim 8, whereinthe force-application tool has a compression shaft configured to engagethe second anchor through a working lumen of a minimally invasive accesstool, and wherein the second anchor is configured to be reconfiguredbetween the variable force mode and the set force mode from outside abody of the patient through the working lumen.
 10. The system of claim1, wherein the delivery catheter comprises: an expandable memberdisposed toward the second end of the delivery catheter, the expandablemember being expandable adjacent the first wall or second wall andengagable against the first wall or second wall wall so as to urge thefirst wall toward the second wall.
 11. A system for treating a heart ofa patient comprising: a guidewire insertable through a wall of the heartinto a chamber of the heart; a delivery catheter having a first end, asecond end, a lumen extending between the first end and the second end,and an anchor receptacle disposed at the second end, the anchorreceptacle being positioned on a side of the delivery catheter andproximal of a distal tip of the delivery catheter so that the lumen ofthe delivery catheter extends through a portion of the delivery catheteron a proximal side and on a distal side of the anchor receptacle, thedelivery catheter being insertable through the wall and the lumendefining an axis of the delivery catheter; an anchor positionable withinthe anchor receptacle and deliverable from the anchor receptacle so thatthe anchor exits the anchor receptacle in a radial direction in relationto the axis of the delivery catheter, the anchor comprising a lumenconfigured to receive a release wire therethrough to releasably lock theanchor in a low profile configuration within the anchor receptacle inwhich the anchor and lumen are aligned with an opening of the wall ofthe heart; and a tension member coupled with the anchor to urge the wallagainst a second wall; wherein the release wire is positionable throughthe lumen of the anchor and through the lumen of the delivery catheteron the proximal side and on the distal side of the anchor receptacle toreleasably lock the anchor in the low profile configuration within theanchor receptacle; and wherein the release wire removable from the lumenof the anchor to unlock the anchor from the anchor receptacle and allowthe anchor to be delivered radially from the anchor receptacle and toreorient from the low profile configuration to a deployed configurationin which the anchor and lumen are not aligned with the opening of thewall.
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a guide membercouplable with a distal end of the tension member to guide the tensionmember through the wall, the guide member comprising a lumen configuredto receive the guidewire such that the guide member is insertable overthe guidewire.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the release wire isthe guidewire.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the anchor is axiallyaligned with the delivery catheter in the low profile configuration.